Volunteers to Build 'Water Guzzler' for Wildlife

Field & Stream magazine is sponsoring a series of Hero For a Day volunteer projects throughout the country and the next one is in Moorpark. On Saturday, volunteers will install a wildlife "water guzzler" on a parcel of private land adjacent to Happy Camp Park.

The water guzzlers are manmade tanks that catch and hold water and can help sustain wildlife in arid parts of the country during especially dry years, according to the magazine's website. (Check out the YouTube video we found explaining how a guzzler generally works.)

The tank volunteers will build Saturday will have a 500-gallon capacity. Organizers' intent is to have the guzzler in place in time to collect runoff from spring rains.

Volunteers will meet at 7 a.m. at the McDonalds restaurant at 501 Los Angeles Ave. The project will run through about 3 p.m. They should expect to dig, remove rocks, use tools like screwdrivers and wrenches and carry portions of the structure to be assembled. They should wear closed-toe shoes and bring shovel or picks and gloves, if they have them, as well as sun protection and water. Lunch and tools will be provided. Those interested in volunteering should contact John Nelson at 661-253-4072 or jnelson@scvquwf.com.